Dental Implants Richmond Tx
Proper oral care is vital to maintaining physical wellbeing. To achieve this, dentists recommend brushing twice daily, flossing, eating healthy, and bi-annual dentist’s checkups. Dental care is oriented towards avoiding lousy breath, gum disease, tooth decay, and teeth loss (typically the final stage of periodontal disease). The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 7% of Americans lose at least one permanent tooth to decay before age 17. Therefore, it is no surprise that dentists place over five million dental implants yearly in the US – and dentists in Richmond Texas are no exception.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots similar in shape to screws, that keep your teeth in place. They were invented by the Swedish orthopedic surgeon Per-Ingvar Branemark in 1952. Today, many dentists consider these implants the standard procedure for prosthetic replacement of missing teeth. When dentists place these dental implants in your jawbone through a process called osseointegration, they bond with your natural bone for a few months. As such, this bond creates a strong foundation to support the fixing of artificial teeth called crowns. These fixed teeth can be permanent or removable replacement teeth that match your natural teeth.
According to multiple dentists, getting a dental implant fused to your jawbone is the closest thing to a natural tooth you can have. They say this because these implants are stable on their own and don’t affect any nearby teeth. They also don’t make noise or cause bone damage as compared to dentures or fixed bridgework. Additionally, these implants are mostly made of titanium, which easily integrates into your bone without your white blood cells identifying and attacking it as a foreign body object. Today, science and technology’s progress has significantly improved dental implant placements’ outcomes, with the modern procedure having a success rate of about 98%.
What is the cost of Dental Implants?
The complete cost for a Dental Implant including the Abutment and Crown is $1999.00.
There may be other costs involved with Dental Implants like bone grafting, complex extractions or other procedures.
Grand Parkway Smiles offers a Free Consultation for patients interested in Dental Implants. The consultation includes all x-rays, evaluation by one of our implant specialists and treatment plan that will outline all costs. We accept most PPO dental insurance, cash, and major credit cards; in addition, we have several financing options available for patients.
Who Needs A Dental Implant?
Dental implants can replace a single tooth, some teeth, or all of your teeth to restore function and aesthetics. Generally speaking, you may require dental implants if you:
- Can’t wear or are unable to wear dentures due to complications like poor fit, sunken lips, mouth sores, and food restrictions
- Have one or more missing teeth
- Want to improve your speech
- Want to preserve your appearance because of a deteriorating jawbone
- Want to stop your teeth from shifting into gaps in your mouth
- Prefer a long-term tooth replacement option
Types of Dental Implants
Depending on your unique situation, you may require one of three types of dental implants. These are endosteal, subperiosteal, and full mouth dental implants.
- Endosteal Implants
These types of implants are mostly put in your jawbone as an artificial root that keeps a replacement tooth in place. Endosteal implants provide an alternative to permanent dentures and bridges. These tooth implants are the most common types of implants because they replace a single tooth. They are usually made of titanium and shaped like small screws. Screw-shaped endosteal implants are known as the cylinder or screw type. Another type of endosteal implant exists, known as blade implants. These tooth implants are the most affordable dental implants as compared to other tooth replacement procedures. Endosteal implants are long-lasting, keep your jawbones healthy, and reverse bone weakness and loss. Additionally, the surgery for this tooth implant puts you in minimum discomfort and pain.
The procedure for endosteal implants begins with your Richmond TX dentist first deciding whether you can undergo a successful endosteal dental implant. The criteria that you must satisfy to qualify for these affordable dental implants includes good dental and overall health, a fully developed jaw, a jaw with enough bone, healthy gums, and disinterest or inability to wear dentures. Also, you must not be a user of tobacco products.
After qualifying for the implants, your dentist will then anesthetize you and drill into your jawbone to put a titanium screw as an artificial root. Then, you wait for a couple of months for the soft tissue and bone to heal around the bases. Once the waiting period is over, you will revisit your dentist to fix the abutment onto the dental implant. Sometimes, dentists add the abutment during the procedure, eliminating the need for a second surgery. About two weeks after the abutment fixing, you will revisit the dentist for impressions to make the crown and create an artificial tooth that is either fixed or removable. To complete the full procedure, you must be willing to dedicate several weeks or months to healing and waiting for a new bone to grow within your jaw.
After the surgery, your dentist will prescribe the proper oral hygiene and aftercare procedures that you must stick to. Additionally, you will likely receive antibiotics and pain medication to prevent infection and manage your discomfort. Caring for your endosteal implants involves routine and professional teeth cleaning. On your own, you will need to practice proper oral hygiene by brushing, flossing, etc. You may also need to abstain from hard and chewy foods based on your dentist’s recommendation.
- Subperiosteal Implants
Subperiosteal implants have a metal framework constructed from cobalt, molybdenum, or chrome and inserted into your bone. These teeth implants are typically fixed under the gums but above or on your jawbone. Subperiosteal implants are usually your next option should you reject the bone augmentation procedure for endosteal implants. These implants are also ideal for replacing several teeth in one area of your mouth if you can’t wear dentures. Additionally, suppose you didn’t qualify for endosteal implants due to having a weak jawbone or a shallow jawbone incapable of supporting endosteal implants; in that case, this procedure will also likely be for you. Due to significant strides in bone grafting, imaging, and dental implant design, dentists rarely use subperiosteal implants. Their high failure rates of between 30%-50% also make them widely unpopular.
Because this type of dental implant becomes set on top of the bone, it isn’t restricted by the bone shape or amount of bone in your mouth. As such, you can avoid bone grafting and have your implanted teeth working faster. Additionally, the healing process is quicker when you use subperiosteal implants as compared to other procedures, which take a few months to heal because soft tissue heals over the implants faster than bone.
The procedure for subperiosteal implants is often completed over a two-part surgery. It generally also starts with a dentist’s assessment to see whether you genuinely qualify for the process. Once that is ascertained, your dentist begins the first part of your surgery. Firstly, expect some local anesthesia to numb your mouth region. Then, your gum will be opened with a scalpel to expose the underlying bone. A bone impression is then made to know the extent and contours of where your framework will be bonded and where the struts that will hold the bridges in place will be positioned. This information guides your dentist when making your frame. Once your dentist takes this impression, your gums will be stitched with sutures until the second procedure.
The implants will be finally placed in the second procedure. At the start, your gum tissue is cut open with a scalpel to place your implant into the bone. Dentists usually use tiny screws to hold these implants in place. Your gum tissues are then sutured back over the frame. Finally, the surgeon places a temporary bridge over this extension so that your oral tissue can heal over it. When your gums fully heal, a bridge matching your natural teeth can be secured onto the extensions. Similar to the endosteal implant procedure, some dentists can finish your subperiosteal implants with only one surgery if they successfully take a CT scan of your lower jaw to make your frame.
Due to the procedure’s high failure rates, complications that arise from subperiosteal implants are widespread. Consequently, dentists advise that you prioritize proper oral hygiene maintenance and adhere to any specific post-surgery instructions from your dentist or oral surgeon. Swellings and temporary pain in the implant are common post-procedure, so you may have to consume only soft foods for about a week. Also, dentists advise that you avoid smoking because it increases the risk of your dental implant’s failure. Your dentist will look for infection and signs of gum growth in your follow-up appointments and remove any stitches if necessary.
- Full Mouth Dental Implants
Full mouth dental implants, also known as all-on-6 implants or all-on-4 dental implants, are ideal when missing plenty of your teeth. The process involves using dental implants to restore the entire upper or lower arch of teeth in one complete bridge to replace lost natural teeth and some of the roots. Unlike dentures, these teeth implants secure your jaw structure better and reduce the bone loss that typically occurs after tooth loss. A full mouth dental implant treatment is often your only option to fully fix your appearance, function, and comfort when compared to natural teeth. Typically, your full mouth dental treatment will consist of the diagnostic and planning phases, usually taking a few weeks. Within these few weeks, your Richmond, TX dentist will perform x-rays, CT scans, diagnostic mock-ups, smile design, virtual planning, etc. Depending on your unique situation, you may require about four to eight dental implants in your upper or lower jaw. Thanks to advances in dental technology, you may also need between four to six dental implants to replace all your upper and lower jaw teeth, known as all-on-4 dental implants. Also, your dentists will fabricate a fixed temporary bridge or bridges. Lastly, long-lasting porcelain teeth identical to natural teeth or implant Dentures are attached to these dental implants using screws or dental cement. Full mouth dental implants have numerous benefits over other teeth replacement procedures. Firstly, they closely resemble natural teeth, so people are not likely to notice that they are artificial. Your bone is also better preserved with implant-supported full bridges and dentures. Additionally, these teeth are known for their durability because they are meant to last long-term. If you receive full bridges and dentures with implant support, you will benefit from better security and stability because these implants have more natural chewing and biting capacity. Also, full mouth dental implants are more comfortable to maintain than conventional dentures. Like the two implant types above, full mouth dental implants’ procedure also begins with your dentist’s assessment to determine whether you qualify for the surgery. Once you are cleared, expect a two-part surgery spaced two to six months apart. In the surgery’s first phase, your dentist will begin by numbing the area with general anesthesia. Then, they will place the dental implants, which may resemble screws or cylinders, directly into your jaw. In the next two to three months, the implants are left to bond together to form a solid foundation that will host your superficial teeth. Within this period, you may wear a substitute teeth replacement over the implant sites. You may also require extensions to be attached for multiple crowns connected to the implants, completing the foundation for your new teeth. After this, your dentist will give you a couple of weeks to give your gums adequate time to heal. After healing, the abutments for either all-on-6 or all-on-4 dental implants can then be tightened down on the implants to make them firmer. Finally, your dentist will prepare your full bridges or dentures and attach them to the abutments. After you complete this process, you can expect restored confidence in your smile and improved speech. Additionally, many people who choose full mouth dental implants report enjoying more foods and easier maintenance. These dental implants are an excellent option for most dentists. The procedure’s success rate is notably high, over 90% even after fifteen years! However, this is heavily dependent on proper maintenance and care of your new teeth. Since your new teeth feel and look like natural teeth, cleaning these implants requires routine proper oral hygiene practices. Many dentists suggest regular brushing, flossing, and overall excellent dental hygiene to maintain your new teeth. The dental implant specialists at Grand Parkway Smiles still stress the importance of properly maintaining full mouth dental implants, although these teeth implants don’t decay. Therefore, keep this in mind to maintain your new teeth properly.
Finding the right dentist in Richmond, TX that provides premium dental health care for the community is not an easy feat. If you live in the area, then be sure to visit one of the dental Implant specialists at Grand Parkway Smiles for your dental implants needs at 8322220016.